Jung Hye-young added to Gu Family Book

35 February 1, 2013January 31, 2013

by javabeans

Her recent drama roles have had her playing Jung Il-woo’s mom and Kim Hyun-joong’s mom, but real life mother-of-four Jung Hye-young won’t be playing a maternal role this time around for Gu Family Book, the fusion fantasy drama starring Lee Seung-gi and Suzy.

Instead, Jung has been cast as head gisaeng Chun Soo-ryun at an establishment named Chunhwagwan. Having been a gisaeng from her youth, she’s amassed a reputation for her beauty and wisdom as she serves a clientele that includes the rich and famous. Soo-ryun puts in constant efforts to elevate her junior gisaengs to becoming artists, so I suppose there’s a bit of mothering going on there, though maybe it’s more like perfect-older-sister-ing. You know, the unni who’s sweet and awesome and who’d be infuriatingly perfect if only you didn’t love her so. Jung will act her character from her thirties through fifties, which seems crazy till I remember she’s approaching 40 (though she certainly doesn’t look it).

No word yet on how she fits into the actual storyline of our half-gumiho, half-human hero, but since sageuks often place a lot of the action at gisaeng houses I anticipate we’ll see a good amount of her character. Or I hope we do; Jung Hye-young has such wonderful screen presence in everything, whether she’s being regal and stately (Return of Iljimae) or giddy and schoolgirlish (Playful Kiss).

Gu Family Book will follow Horse Healer in April.

Via Joy News

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Tags: Jung Hye-young

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1 Myka

February 1, 2013 at 5:10 AM

This is... nice?

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skelly

February 1, 2013 at 11:01 AM

YES!!! This is very nice, indeed. Just one scene in Return of Iljimae had me nearly in tears, and wondering where this fabulous actress had been all my life.

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skelly

February 1, 2013 at 12:08 PM

And furthermore, I went back in the archives, and here's what the unassailable javabeans herself had to say about that scene:

"Speaking of Baek-mae, oh good heavenly lord that scene just killed me. I was bawling through it, and I mean the full sniffly-nosed, puffy-eyed, vision-blurring kind of bawling. Great writing, and great acting."

Case closed.

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GrandmaFran

February 1, 2013 at 1:07 PM

which scene was this please?

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skelly

February 1, 2013 at 2:41 PM

The beginning of episode 23...

2 snow_white

February 1, 2013 at 5:13 AM

loved her in Playful Kiss...so I'm happy to see her here :)

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3 wanne

February 1, 2013 at 5:37 AM

When I read your first sentence 'but real life mother-of-four Jung Hye-young won’t be playing a maternal role this time around...', the first thought that came to mind was 'Don't tell me she will have a loveline with Seunggi!' LOL

It's good to hear more casting news now. They'll start filming tomorrow if I'm not mistaken, so hopefully we can get more updates and pictures soon.

I think Jung Hye Young character will be related to the second female lead (Kang Chi's first love who wants to bring back her upper class family status).

One casting news that I'm looking forward to know is Kang Chi's father since the story seems to centre more around him and his son who are both half human.

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otchosais

February 1, 2013 at 5:56 AM

loL!!! I was so in that sentiments also.. I was like,

OMG!!! what had happen to Korean Drama world that they made her LSG's other girl in the story.. hahah :))

but I am not against her! I LOVE HER IN PK! and miss her! :)

waahh!!! Missing LSG and so excited for the drama!!!
APRIL PLEASE COME!!! <3

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4 Peridot

February 1, 2013 at 6:01 AM

I've been waiting for this drama for a a while and I am hoping that it will not disappoint. I am wondering how (or if) the writers will reinterpret the lore surrounding the figure of the Gumiho (a figure which, in Korean tradition, is female).

On a side note, I was wondering if anyone could list reputable sites that sell Korean DVDs with good English subtitles (and which sell either Region 1 or All-Region DVDs). I used to purchase DVDs released by YA Entertainment but that company will no longer be in business.

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Keren27

February 1, 2013 at 6:13 AM

I am joining you in doubling the hopes of the drama not disappointing and being able to stick it out through the end. For some reasons, LSG's dramas have the propensity to make me start and not stick it through the end. :D

On your side note, try mvibo.com which used to be KBSWorldi.

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Keren27

February 1, 2013 at 6:14 AM

oops, although this drama is from MBC.

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Peridot

February 1, 2013 at 12:17 PM

Okay. Thank you for the suggestion :)

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yes/no/yes asia

February 1, 2013 at 9:31 AM

~ I used to purchase DVDs released by YA Entertainment but that company will no longer be in business. ~

Do you have a link for that? I just checked, and as of today, they are still in business. I can't find anything saying they are going out of business.

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Peridot

February 1, 2013 at 12:12 PM

Hi,

Here is the link.

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/163642/bb16feb944/334835/1afd1b864d/

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5 wanne

February 1, 2013 at 6:18 AM

One fan actually managed to capture Seunggi's interaction with Suzy during Seoul Music Awards last night. It was blurry but I can already feel the chemistry in the air! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oa2thTJM8U4

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6 pillowhead

February 1, 2013 at 6:24 AM

oh! idk her or Suzy, but i'd love a noon romance with LSG more that a Suzy romance. But I'll give Suzy a chance. Cannot wait for this drama!
BTW, anyone know when OT starts?

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7 Mawiie

February 1, 2013 at 6:44 AM

Ohhh interesting!

Now that we have gisaeng and gumiho... can we please have like double cameos from Seung Gi's latest co-stars Shin Min Ah and Ha Ji Won? As Gumiho and Hwang Jin Yi LOL I'd trade a part of my soul for that

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8 Annie

February 1, 2013 at 7:04 AM

I think she's far more likely to be a villain/accessory to the villain than LSG's first love. Don't get me wrong, she's gorgeous, but once an actress starts playing motherly roles, that's not something she can recover from.

Moreover, isn't Kang Chi's first love a girl from a noble family? Maybe Jung Hye Young takes Kang Chi's first love under her wing.

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skelly

February 1, 2013 at 12:14 PM

If any actress can recover from the horrible stigma of playing a mother, it would be this one.

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Annie

February 1, 2013 at 12:36 PM

Maybe. I don't think MBC is going to go there.

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9 Melmax

February 1, 2013 at 7:24 AM

Jung Hye Young--loved her in Playful Kiss.. Thanks

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10 Lovebug

February 1, 2013 at 7:51 AM

First of all she is Gorgeous! I also think its interesting that though she is in her late 30's she has already played the mom to grown children versus actresses like Choi Kang Hee and Kim Sun ha who are not much younger than her (Or look much younger than her) but get cast in younger or more age appropriate roles. Maybe because they are really popular they are afforded those roles but its really sad about the lack of roles for slightly older females in SK.

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skelly

February 1, 2013 at 12:12 PM

When did she play Kim Sun Ah's mother???

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Annie

February 1, 2013 at 12:40 PM

I read it that way too at first, but she means as opposed to actresses like Choi Kang Hee and Kim Sun Ah.

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skelly

February 1, 2013 at 2:39 PM

Tks.

Maybe it's because she is a mother in real life, and the other actresses aren't. So much of the time, real life seems to spill over into how characters are cast and acted, in Kdramas (and fans get upset when this rule isn't followed!).

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Lovebug

February 1, 2013 at 2:51 PM

This maybe be true but this standard doesn't seem to apply to men...

Lovebug

February 1, 2013 at 2:50 PM

Sorry peeps! I should probably go back and read my comments before hitting submit!

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11 manassuper

February 1, 2013 at 8:20 AM

looking forward to the drama.......i am more intrested to know who plays his father whom he will go against in the drama.......his father plays an central role....hope someone breathtaking like kim bong gu in TK2H takes the role.........